Everybody Say Cheesus

A bunch of members of the coalition groups gathered over the weekend to take a photo underneath that billboard:

Looks like an awesome group with a lot of diversity in age, gender, and possibly ethnicity (though it’s hard to tell just by sight). In any case, it’s a group I wouldn’t mind joining if I lived in the area

I’m glad Maine doesn’t allow billboards but stuff like this makes me wish some where allowed.

newavocation

I’d love a bumpsticker of that billboard!

http://squeakysoapbox.com/ Rich Wilson

I’d say the fact that God didn’t Smite them right then and there proves God doesn’t give a shit what people put on billboards. Or, you know, he doesn’t exist…

Haha USA

I’m movin to San Diego so I can wear T-shirts in the winter

OregoniAn

Quite photogenic. Their smiles gave me one – and I agree with NewAvovation – that billboard would make a good bumper sticker!

http://www.facebook.com/joe.zamecki.7 Joe Zamecki

Outstanding.

DougI

Vandalized by Jesus lovers in 3….2….1….

Chris B

I really want to like the sign, but I just can’t do it. It’s too condescending. It is possible to be a believer and have a “relationship with reality.” People compartmentalize all the time. I probably hold hundreds of erroneous beliefs in my head, but I am still connected to reality. I doubt any one’s mind will be changed because of that sign. If I were a believer and encountered it, my defense mechanisms and pride would kick in, and I would be more reluctant to change. I definitely prefer the “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” signs. They invite curiosity and inquisitiveness; these just insult people.

GregFromCos

Part of me thinks the billboard would be cooler if the veil that were being lifted up were a thunderstorm or something. Or maybe some ugly surrealisitc take on the world. Either way it’s still very beautiful and eye catching.

allein

Is it bad that I like it mostly because it’s a big stack of books?

http://friendlyatheist.com Richard Wade

I just met most of these people yesterday. I drove down to San Diego to do a dinosaur show for them and their kids to promote Camp Quest. They’re a very friendly, positive, interesting, interested, and energetic group, and they’re gracious hosts. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them. After the show, we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Charles Darwin and the kids blew out candles on a cake with his face photocopied on it. It was great fun.

Baby_Raptor

You’re reading too much into it. Nowhere does the sign imply that *only* Atheists can have a relationship with reality. It’s not worded something like “Atheism: The only connection to reality” or whatever.

It’s an obvious play on a well known religious reference, nothing more.

Greisha

My wife and I planned to be there as well, but were still recovering from flu. Waring t-shirts at the winter does not protect from flu.

Rain

Wow that would make a nice tie. I wish they sold it as ties.

baal

Well, the NE U.S. got a snow storm and we all know god’s aim for retributive weathers is somewhat abyssmal.

http://squeakysoapbox.com/ Rich Wilson

Oh C’mon, you know the NE is nothing but a bunch of Godless liberals. They had it coming!

Edit: oh, and Global Warming? HAHAHA! (/sarcasm)

Gus Snarp

Possibly ethnically? I don’t think so. Yes, there may be some Hispanic or Asian Americans in the group, which is great, but it certainly doesn’t look like there are any African Americans. I support any kind of ethnic diversity, but I still think it reflects a problem when there is not a single member of the single largest minority group in the country in your group. For the record, I am absolutely certain this group would be thrilled to have black members and have them in the photo, but I do think we as atheists have a huge and multifaceted problem with getting African Americans into our movement.

Gus Snarp

Global warming? It was a SNOW storm! (/also sarcasm)

http://absurdlypointless.blogspot.com/ Bubba Tarandfeathered

I’ll bet they thought of using a kindle to lift the veil but realized that it was too small and wouldn’t get the point across just right.

allein

Heh. I have a nook and while it comes in handy sometimes (it’s great for reading on the treadmill cuz it stays flat and doesn’t bounce), I still prefer the real thing.

Ashton

Yes, it would be great to have some black people in the picture and in the group, but actually hispanics are the largest minority group in the U.S. and certainly in that part of the country.

Gus Snarp

It seems that you are correct, but in checking up on your correction I discovered something interesting: Wikipedia claims that Hispanic and Latino Americans are the largest ethnic minority, but “Black Americans” are the largest racial minority.

I also would not be surprised at all if Hispanics were very close to a majority in the San Diego area.